Milaap Launches the 'The Mountain Man Project' to Recognize the Common Indian's Do-It-Yourself Spirit

BANGALORE, January 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Milaap.org, Asia's largest crowd funding platform for social impact, has launched 'The Mountain Man Project' to galvanize efforts towards recognizing the common Indian's heroism.

The project is named after Dashrath Manjhi (The Mountain Man), a labourer from Bihar, who set out to carve a road through a mountain, equipped with only his hammer, chisel, and crowbar. After 22 years of chipping through the 300-foot mountain, he single-handedly reduced the 70 km distance between his isolated village and the nearest town to just 5 km, helping his people get access to doctors, jobs, education, and opportunities. He refused to give up in the face of daunting obstacles. This incredible story of the human spirit is an inspiring symbol of the Do-It-Yourself Indian, and continues to astound many, even years after Manjhi's death.

Through this campaign, Milaap is also launching Open, a new platform that lets people showcase their initiatives; attract supporters and crowd fund from around the world. The campaign epitomizes what Milaap Open stands for: celebrating the resilient spirit and heroism of everyday individuals.

Anoj Viswanathan, Milaap's Co-founder, said, "On Milaap Open, we showcase inspired individuals and their ideas, connect them to supporters and help them attract global recognition and funding. Dashrath Manjhi epitomizes everything that we stand for. Milaap Open is all about celebrating the common man's ability to move mountains."

All through January and February, the campaign will engage the online world towards this theme using powerful photographs, stories, blogs, videos, inviting readers to share The Mountain Man's story and inspire others to imbibe his Do-It-Yourself spirit.

About Milaap 

Milaap, initiated in June 2010 by three passionate young entrepreneurs, is a crowd funding platform that is changing the way people fund and impact communities in need. Since 2010, Milaap has helped nearly 20,000 people contribute to and raise funds for the causes they care about, impacting over 110,000 lives across India. Milaap's vision is to empower people like you to create the change that you want to see, to be the inspiration India needs.

Media Contact: Riya Chhabra, [email protected], +91-9619489001, +91-8880340333, Milaap Social Ventures